Baby seating and enclosure apparatus

ABSTRACT

Implementations of a baby seating and enclosure apparatus are provided. In some implementations, the baby seating and enclosure apparatus may comprise an enclosure defined by walls; and an adjustable back portion within the enclosure. In some implementations, the baby seating and enclosure apparatus comprises a toy bar configured to extend across the opening of the enclosure. In some implementations, the baby seating and enclosure apparatus comprises a floor mat configured to be placed in the enclosure at the bottom of the enclosure. In some implementations, the baby seating and enclosure apparatus comprises a control panel on one of the walls. In some implementations, the baby seating and enclosure apparatus comprises one or more speakers located on one or more of the walls. In some implementations, the baby seating and enclosure apparatus comprises a holder configured to hold an electronic device. In some implementations, the baby seating and enclosure apparatus comprises a tray configured to extend across the opening of the enclosure.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/989,199, which was filed on May 6, 2014, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to implementations of a baby seating and enclosure apparatus.

BACKGROUND

Existing products to place a baby while the baby is awake typically only include a seat and in some cases a toy bar for entertainment. Examples of such products include bouncers, rockers, and swings. The seats of these existing products are in a reclined position making it difficult for the baby to observe his/her surroundings. Furthermore, the back of these seats are not independently adjustable. Because the seats are in a reclined position, the toy bar extends above the baby's head. These seated baby products also do not include an enclosure defined by walls or a removable tray for snacks.

Existing products that do include an enclosure (such as existing playpens) do not include an adjustable seat. Furthermore, these enclosure baby products are large and not easily portable without disassembling. Still further, these existing enclosure baby products have high walls such that a baby therein cannot observe his/her surrounding unobstructed by the walls of the products. Still further, these existing enclosure baby products do not include toy bars extending from one side of the product to the other side.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate example implementations of a baby seating and enclosure apparatus according to the principles of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Implementations of a baby seating and enclosure apparatus are provided. In some implementations, the baby seating and enclosure apparatus may comprise an enclosure defined by walls and an adjustable back portion within the enclosure. In some implementations, the baby seating and enclosure apparatus may comprise a toy bar configured to extend across the opening of the enclosure. In some implementations, the baby seating and enclosure apparatus may comprise a floor mat configured to be placed in the enclosure at the bottom of the enclosure. In some implementations, the baby seating and enclosure apparatus may comprise a control panel on one of the walls. In some implementations, the baby seating and enclosure apparatus may comprise one or more speakers located on one or more of the walls. In some implementations, the baby seating and enclosure apparatus may comprise a holder configured to hold an electronic device. In some implementations, the baby seating and enclosure apparatus may comprise a tray configured to extend across the opening of the enclosure.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example implementation of a baby seating and enclosure apparatus 100 according to the principles of the present disclosure. In some implementations, the baby seating and enclosure apparatus 100 may comprise an enclosure 110 defined by walls 115 and an adjustable back portion 120 inside the enclosure 110.

In some implementations, the baby seating and enclosure apparatus 100 further comprises a toy bar 130 configured to extend across the opening of the enclosure 110.

In some implementations, the baby seating and enclosure apparatus 100 may comprise a tray 140 configured to extend across the opening of the enclosure.

In some implementations, the baby seating and enclosure apparatus 100 may comprise a floor mat 150 configured to be placed in the enclosure at the bottom of the enclosure (see e.g., FIG. 2).

In some implementations, the baby seating and enclosure apparatus 100 may comprise a control panel 160 on a wall 115 of the baby seating and enclosure apparatus 100.

In some implementations, the baby seating and enclosure apparatus 100 may comprise one or more speakers (see, e.g., 170) located on one or more walls 115 of the baby seating and enclosure apparatus 100. In some implementations, a speaker may be included with the control panel.

In some implementations, the baby seating and enclosure apparatus 100 may comprise a holder 180 configured to hold an electronic device such as a tablet computer, monitor, or any other electric device to entertain a baby placed in the baby seating and enclosure apparatus 100. In some implementations, the baby seating and enclosure apparatus 100 may comprise a weighted base 190 configured to help keep the baby seating and enclosure apparatus 100 from tipping over.

In some implementations, the walls 115 of the baby seating and enclosure apparatus 100 may form a rectangular enclosure 110. In some implementations the walls may form any suitably shaped enclosure. In some implementations, the baby seating and enclosure apparatus 100 includes a bottom portion on which the floor mat 150 rests. In some implementations, the walls 115 are manufactured from plastic. In some implementations, the walls 115 are manufactured from any suitable material.

In some implementations, the enclosure 110 may be 14 inches wide and 20 inches in length. In some implementations, the enclosure may be smaller or larger in width and/or length.

In some implementations, the height of the walls 115 is such that a baby when seated in the baby seating and enclosure apparatus 100 may observe his/her surrounding unobstructed. In some implementations, the top of the walls 115 measure no more than 10 inches from the floor. In some implementations, the top of the walls 115 may measure more or less than 10 inches from the floor.

In some implementations, the back portion 120 is configured to support the back of a baby. In some implementations, the back portion 120 and/or floor mat 150 may be made from a resilient material. In some implementations, the back portion 120 and/or floor mat 150 may be made from a foam material. In some implementations, the back portion 120 and/or floor mat 150 may be made from a memory foam material. In some implementations, the back portion 120 and/or floor mat 150 may be made from low-resilience polyurethane foam. In some implementations, the back portion 120 and/or floor mat 150 may be made from a fire resistant material. In some implementations, the back portion 120 and/or floor mat 150 may be made from a material that is easy to clean. In some implementations, the back portion 120 and/ or floor mat 150 may be made from any suitable material.

In some implementations, the back portion 120 is configured such that the angle of the back portion 120 with respect to the bottom of the baby seating and enclosure apparatus 100 may be adjusted. In some implementations, the angle of the back portion 120 may be adjusted by a rotating knob (e.g., knob 120 a) on a wall of the baby seating and enclosure apparatus 100. In some implementations, the knob is operably connected to the back portion and configured to adjust the angle of the back portion 120. In some implementations, the back portion 120 may be adjusted in any suitable manner. One of ordinary skill in the art with the benefit of this disclosure would know how to make an adjustable back portion.

In some implementations, the back portion 120 may include a pair of straps 120 b extending from the back portion 120. In some implementations, the straps 120 b are configured to removably attach to a third strap 120 c thereby forming a seat belt. In some implementations, the third strap 120 c may be fixedly attached to a bottom of the baby seating and enclosure apparatus 100. In this way, when a baby is placed in the baby seating and enclosure apparatus 100 with his/her back resting on the back portion 120, the third strap 120 c may be placed in between the baby's legs and the pair of straps 120 b may extend from the back portion 120 and attach to the third strap 120 c thereby securing the baby in the baby seating and enclosure apparatus 100. In some implementations, the floor mat 150 may include an opening 150 a such that when the floor mat 150 is placed in the baby seating and enclosure apparatus 100, the third strap 120 c may extend through the opening 150 a of the floor mat 150 to connect with the pair of straps 120 b.

In some implementations, the toy bar 130 may be an elongated piece of material. In some implementations, the toy bar 130 may be removably attached to the baby seating and enclosure apparatus 100. In some implementations, the ends 130 a, 130 b (not shown) of the toy bar 130 may be inserted into openings 115 a, 116 b, respectively, on opposite walls of the baby seating and enclosure apparatus 100 to attach the toy bar 130 to the baby seating and enclosure apparatus 100.

In some implementations, one or both of the ends of the toy bar 130 may include a protrusion that is longer than the width of the openings 115 a, 115 b. These protrusions serve to prevent the toy bar 130 for coming out of the openings 115 a and/or 115 b once the toy bar 130 is in place. Thus, in some implementations, to secure the toy bar 130 to the baby seating and enclosure apparatus 100, the toy bar 130 first may be oriented such that the protrusions may fit through the openings 115 a, 115 b of the baby seating and enclosure apparatus 100. Once both ends of the toy bar 130 are placed through the openings, the toy bar 130 then may be rotated 90 degrees to lock the toy bar 130 in place.

In some implementations, the tray 140 may be configured to be removably placed on the baby seating and enclosure apparatus 100 by any suitable means. In some implementations, the tray 140 may be configured to snap onto opposite walls of the baby seating and enclosure apparatus 100 by any suitable means.

In some implementations, the control panel 160 may be located on a front side or back side of the baby seating and enclosure apparatus 100. In some implementations, the control panel 160 may be placed at any suitable location on the baby seating and enclosure apparatus 100. In some implementations, the control panel 160 may be operably connected to one or more speakers. In some implementations, the control panel 160 may include an on/off switch. In some implementations, the control panel 170 may include a battery compartment, an AC wall adaptor, or both. A plug and electrical cord may be provided for use with implementations of the baby seating and enclosure apparatus 100 equipped with an AC wall adaptor. In some implementations, the control panel 160 may include a volume controller for the speaker(s).

In some implementations, the holder 180 may be rotatably attached to a wall of the baby seating and enclosure apparatus 100. In this way, the holder 180 may be rotated up when the electronic device is in use and rotated down when the electronic device is not in use. In some implementations, the electronic device may be operatively connected to the control panel 160 and/or speakers 170.

Reference throughout this specification to “an embodiment” or “an implementation” or words of similar import means that a particular described feature, structure, or characteristic is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the phrase “in an embodiment” or “an implementation” or a phrase of similar import in various places throughout this specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings.

The described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the above description, numerous specific details are provided for a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that embodiments of the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations may not be shown or described in detail. 

1. A baby seating and enclosure apparatus comprising: an enclosure defined by walls; and an adjustable back portion within the enclosure.
 2. The baby seating and enclosure apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a toy bar configured to extend across the opening of the enclosure.
 3. The baby seating and enclosure apparatus of claim 2 wherein the enclosure is no more than 14 inches wide and 20 inches long.
 4. The baby seating and enclosure apparatus of claim 3 wherein the top of the walls measure no more than 10 inches from the floor.
 5. The baby seating and enclosure apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a floor mat configured to be placed in the enclosure at the bottom of the enclosure.
 6. The baby seating and enclosure apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a bottom portion on which the floor mat rests.
 7. The baby seating and enclosure apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a control panel on one of the walls.
 8. The baby seating and enclosure apparatus of claim 1 further comprising one or more speakers located on one or more of the walls.
 9. The baby seating and enclosure apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a holder configured to hold an electronic device wherein the holder is rotatably attached to one of the walls.
 10. The baby seating and enclosure apparatus of claim 1 wherein the back portion is configured such that the angle of the back portion with respect to the bottom of the baby seating and enclosure apparatus may be adjusted.
 11. The baby seating and enclosure apparatus of claim 1 wherein the back portion include a pair of straps extending from the back portion.
 12. The baby seating and enclosure apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a third strap wherein the pair of straps extending from the back portion is configured to removably attach to the third strap to form a seat belt.
 13. The baby seating and enclosure apparatus of claim 12 wherein the third strap is fixedly attached to a portion of a bottom of the baby seating and enclosure apparatus.
 14. The baby seating and enclosure apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a floor mat configured to be placed in the enclosure at the bottom of the enclosure wherein the floor mat includes an opening wherein the third strap extends through the opening of the floor mat to connect with the pair of straps.
 15. The baby seating and enclosure apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a tray configured to extend across the opening of the enclosure. 